New Hampshire Badger Balms will lull your attendees to sleep -- at night, not during your meeting
Few meeting offerings create as strong a bond with
a destination as a well-chosen pillow gift. Whether giving a
local treat or a state souvenir, offering attendees a little
something that will remind them of the area, or impart some
regional wisdom, gifts are a great way to enhance an event, no
matter where it takes place. With this in mind, Successful
Meetings offers its yearly roundup of gift ideas for each
state, from Alabama to Wyoming.
Alabama
Say hello in Southern style with Carolyn Lewis's unique note
cards, which repurpose her grandfather's Alabama road atlases
into intricate, state-centric designs. Special bonus: If you
don't see the city you want featured, Alabama Goods will have
Tweet Home Alabama note cards custom designed for you. $15.95. www.alabamagoods.com
Alaska
A jar of Pacific Keta salmon eggs from Wild Alaska Smoked
Salmon & Seafood offers a little bit of luxury that can be
enjoyed with crackers, toast, or cream cheese. Any sushi fan
will be pleased with a 1.75-ounce jar of this local favorite.
$19.95. www.smoked-fish.com
Arizona
Attendees can bring home some of the Sonoran desert with a
cactus garden from Arizona Gifts. The handmade, five-inch terra
cotta pot is planted with an array of miniature cacti native to
Arizona and the soil is topped with red gravel similar to that
of the Sedona landscape. $28.98.
www.arizonagifts.com
Arkansas
Ask anyone in Arkansas what one of their main snack staples is
and it's likely they'll mention J&M Cheese Straws. Made
with cheese and spice, these crackers are available in Original
Cheddar, Asiago, Bleu, and an Insanity Cheese Straw flavor with
a touch of chipotle. $2.10 to $24. www.jm-foods.com
California
Unique popcorn flavors like Chipotle Caramel + Almonds and
Vietnamese Cinnamon Sugar set San Francisco's 479 Popcorn
apart. A Foodie Sampler with all five flavors retails for $35. www.479degrees.com
Colorado
Chocolove bars have gained something of a cult following,
probably due to their all-natural ingredients and the fact that
the company has imported the classic techniques of Europe's
finest chocolatiers to its Boulder, CO, factory. The bars come
in 10 flavors, and a case of 12 sells for $31.46. www.chocolove.com
Connecticut
Colorful PEZ Candy Dispensers from the iconic candy's new U.S.
distribution center in Orange, CT, will make any attendee
smile. One of the state's newest sights, the 6,000-square-foot
attraction is home to all things PEZ. Discover the largest,
most comprehensive collection of memorabilia from the
85-year-old candy brand on public display in the world. www.pez.com
Delaware
The Dover International Speedway, referred to as the "Monster
Mile" raceway, is one of the most famous tracks in the nation.
A great memento is a die-cast car featuring a red, white, and
blue color scheme, the Dover logo, and Miles the Monster on the
hood. $10. www.doverspeedway.com
Florida
There are few products so thoroughly associated with Florida as Key Lime Pie, and one of the best places to get it is Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Pie Shoppe—which taught the Today Show cast how to make them. That said, a pie left in an attendee’s room would prove impractical to pack, so here’s a solution: leave a tin of Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Cookies ($12.95 for 6 oz.) in the rooms, along with a note explaining that a full pie, complete with whipped cream, ($73.95 including shipping) will be overnighted to them after they return home.
www.keylimeshop.com
The Home Depot's current slogan is, "More Saving. More Doing."
Before that it was, "You can do it. We can help." Both are
great messages to communicate to any group meeting in Georgia,
where the home improvement company is headquartered. Home Depot
gift cards are available in denominations as low as $10 and as
high as $500.
www.homedepot.com
Hawaii
For a thoughtful memento from Hawaii, consider giving a
handcrafted Hawaiian Koa wood pen from local Hawaiian craftsman
Aaron P. Lau at Lau Lau Woodworks. $35 to $215. www.laulauwoodworks.com
Idaho
The name of the Idaho Spud Bar might be misleading (there are
no potatoes to be found), but since its creation in 1909, this
potato-shaped chocolate-marshmallow-coconut candy bar has been
one of Idaho Candy Co.'s best-selling items. $1 each. www.idahospud.com
Illinois
Garrett Popcorn has been a Chicago tradition since 1949. The
popular popcorn shop, which offers customizable tins of daily
handmade batches, gave rise to the infamous "Chicago mix" - a
tantalizing, salty-and-sweet blend of the CaramelCrisp and
CheeseCorn recipes. $31.
www.garrettpopcorn.com
Indiana
The Indianapolis 500: A Century of Excitement outlines the
history of America's greatest stock car race with stunning
full-page color photos. The book includes a detailed foreword
by Indianapolis native David Letterman. $18. www.amazon.com
Iowa
How about an adorable Iowa-themed cookie-cutter set? Your
attendees will be thrilled to commemorate their trip to Iowa
with some down-on-the-farm sugar cookies or snickerdoodles.
$15. www.homemadepizzelles.com
Kansas
A bar of Sunflower Soap from the Wichita Soap Company lets
attendees enjoy the smell and feel of Kansas. Made from seeds,
petals, and the oil of Kansas sunflowers (and no animal
products), the jasmine-scented soap makes for a natural, local,
and environ- mentally responsible pillow gift. $3.69 per bar. www.kansasoilmuseum.org
Kentucky
Kentucky Burgoo, a spicy stew usually made with pork, chicken,
or mutton, is a favorite dish at local barbecue pits and Derby
parties. Enjoy it with a wide-mouth ceramic mug from Louisville
Stoneware that comes with the burgoo recipe hand-painted on its
side. $30. www.louisvillestoneware.com
Louisiana
Give attendees the taste of New Orleans' French Quarter with a
gift basket from Cafe du Monde, which has been serving rich,
delicious chicory-laced coffee and traditional beignets since
1862. The Orleans St. Gift Basket features a tin of ground
chicory coffee, beignet mix and a souvenir mug. $16.40.
www.cafedumonde.com
Maine
Lobster and Maine go hand-in-hand and when your group is
visiting the state, be sure to give them the opportunity to eat
some. Offer them a lobster pillow gift in another form -
chocolate. Len Libby, a Maine chocolatier, offers a solid
chocolate lobster in either milk or dark. $22. www.lenlibby.com
Maryland
Few attendees leave a meeting in Maryland without having
developed a taste for the state's famous crabs. Send them away
armed with the utensil necessary to enjoy the tasty crustacean
properly no matter where they are. Casson's Crab Knife is
designed with a blunt edge that's perfect for not only picking
the meat out of the crab but also for eating it without
sticking or cutting yourself. A single knife is $8.95, while a
box of four goes for $42. www.cassonscutlery.com
Massachusetts
Frequently referred to as "America's Most Beloved Ballpark,"
Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912, and is one of the most
iconic baseball stadiums in the country. Send your attendees
home with a keepsake replica tin of Boston's iconic baseball
stadium, filled with rich, all-natural, buttery shortbread
cookies. Each tin contains 12 bite-sized baseball cookies in
classic shortbread flavor. $11.95.
www.massbaytrading.com
Michigan
Charm attendees with a unique Michigan-shaped oven mitt that is
as practical as it is novel. The fabric features a detailed map
of the lower peninsula on the front and one of the upper
peninsula on the back. $11. www.thebitchenkitchen.com
Minnesota
Since 1946, Minnetonka moccasins have been a hugely popular offering from this state, and the Thunderbird Moc is perhaps its most iconic. Available in both suede and smooth leather, this style comes in a wide range of colors. $39.95 in suede and $43.95 in smooth leather. www.minnetonkamoccasin.com
Mississippi
Sweet Potato Cake Mix is based on an award- winning Sweet
Potato Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Icing recipe. Your
attendees will enjoy this cake that includes the flavors of
sweet potatoes, coconut, and a hint of raisins. All they will
have to do is add water, oil, and eggs. $11.
www.themississippigiftcompany.com
Missouri
To splurge a bit on attendees for a meeting in Missouri, consider a Taste the Best of Missouri Gourmet Gift Box. Each comes with a wide variety of locally made treats, such as Persimmon Hill Berry Jam, Tony’s Old Fashioned Summer Sausage, and Little Pleasures Soup, all made in the Show-Me State. The best part? Even the box is shaped like Missouri. $54.99.
www.missourimercantile.com
Near her home in Bozeman, MT, Robin Bequet has been making
award-winning, all-natural gourmet caramels since 2001, when
she decided to switch careers and go into candy making after
working for 25 years in technology sales and business
management. Available flavors include Soft Vanilla Butter or
Celtic Sea Salt. $4.95 for a two-ounce gift box.
www.bequetconfections.com
Nebraska
Zyliss's high-design interlocking corn holders are sure to
remind your attendees of their visit to the Cornhusker State.
Best of all, they're practical and easy to pack in a suitcase
for the return flight. A set of four costs $6. usa.zyliss.com
Nevada
Tahoe Toffee founder Mindy Miller's business grew out of the
delicious treats she produced in her own kitchen. A 10-inch
acrylic box in the shape of the state of Nevada filled with 40 ounces of Nevada-shaped (and made) sweet butter hard toffee
with chocolate and chopped almonds is $15, and a portion of the
proceeds goes to Keep Tahoe Blue, an organization dedicated to
preserving Lake Tahoe. www.tahoetoffee.com
New Hampshire
A mini tin of Badger Sleep Balm made locally in Gilsum, NH, is
a thoughtful pillow gift. Badger is a small, family-owned and
family-friendly company nestled on the banks of the Ashuelot
River. The balm consists of organic plant extracts, exotic
oils, butters, and beeswax and bulk quantity discounts are
available. $9.99 for a two-ounce tin and $5.99 for a 0.75-ounce
tin. www.badgerbalm.com
New Jersey
Here's a gift that has Oprah's seal of approval. Jaret's
Stuffed Cupcakes has been featured in her magazine. The
bakery's "Cupcake of the Month Club" is perfect for VIP
attendees. A dozen assortment is shipped overnight to ensure
moistness. A three-month subscription is $42 plus shipping per
month. www.stuffedcupcakes.com
New Mexico
Santa Fe boasts a rich Native American history and is also home
to a burgeoning artists' community. Offer attendees the best of
both worlds with a piece of New Mexico folk art by local
woodcarver Larry Jacquez. His wooden coyote figures come in
three sizes and are made from cottonwood found in the arroyos
north of Santa Fe. $29.95 to $120. www.sfitc.com
New York
Many do not immediately associate New York with golf, which is
a mistake. The Thompson House in the Northern Catskill
Mountains gives all members of golf groups a golf goody bag. www.thompsonhouse.com
North Carolina
You can't find Mayberry, the fictional North Carolina town made
famous on "The Andy Griffith Show," on any map, but attendees
can own a piece of it - if only for as long as it takes to play
Mayberry-opoly. The down-home version of the legendary board
game sells for $30. www.weaversdepartmentstore.com
North Dakota
A small husband-and-wife business located in Bismarck, Cut N
Scribe produces handmade leather goods like checkbooks, belts
and horse nosebands. Starting with full hides, the company
colors the leather and then laser-engraves custom patterns.
Most of their designs have a Western theme, but corporate logos
and colors are no problem, and the company can even customize
each item to the point of adding each participant's name.
Checkbooks start at $35. www.cutnscribe.com
Ohio
Devised by a boy from Marysville, OH, these manly-scented
candles (aka Man Cans) come in varieties like Bacon, Grandpa's
Pipe, Gun Powder, and Campfire. Each is made with a soup can
whose contents were donated to hospitals, churches, and other
non-profit groups. $9.50 per can. man-cans.com
Oklahoma
A sweet and spicy gift idea comes from Oklahoma City-based
Prairie Gypsies. The Red Hot Lover Pepper Jam is made with
fresh jalapeno, habanero, Serrano, and sweet bell peppers - a
lovely companion to everything from chicken to egg rolls to
crackers. $7.50. www.prairiegypsies.com
Oregon
Scientist-turned-chocolatier David Briggs, of Xocolatl De
David, makes delicious, artisanal chocolates in Portland, OR,
including his popular Raleigh Bars that feature chocolate pecan
nougat paired with bourbon caramel, bacon caramel, or salted
caramel. $3. www.xocolatldedavid.com
Pennsylvania
Tastykakes are a Philadelphia tradition. The company was
established in 1914 by Philip J. Baur and Herbert T. Morris and
was originally sold only in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
The Large Classic Collection is the quintessential Tastykake
variety pack. It's stuffed with the company's most popular
cakes for the full Tastykake experience. $39.99. shop.tastykake.com
Rhode Island
Franco DeLucia brought his father's frozen lemonade recipe to
America at the turn of the century. Angelo DeLucia, his son,
began work on a machine to produce frozen lemonade, and on a
method of making it a consistently excellent product. In 1948,
Del's Frozen Lemonade acquired its name and became the sole
product sold at a little stand in Cranston, Rhode Island. Give
your attendees a taste of Rhode Island to bring home with them
with a Del's Lemonade Making Kit. $16. www.dels.com
South Carolina
Pig farming is one of South Carolina's major agricultural
industries. But they're not just for eating - they're a
time-honored symbol of frugality. Remind your attendees to stay
on top of their budgets with a piggy bank bearing the South
Carolina state flag. At $4.95 a piece, these items won't break
your bank either. www.meierfrank.com
South Dakota
For more than 50 years, Rapid City-based Sioux Pottery has been
selling vases, bowls, mugs and other handmade pieces produced
by Sioux craftsmen using red mud from the Black Hills, and
featuring designs and symbols important to the Lakota culture,
such as triangles and the buffalo they relied on for everything
from food to fuel to shelter. Prices range from under $20 for
mugs to $50 to $200 for vases. www.siouxpottery.com
Tennessee
The Goo Goo Cluster is a 100-year-old Tennessee treat that has
it all: milk chocolate, caramel, peanuts, and marshmallow
nougat. Planners can choose from the Original, Peanut Butter,
or Supreme (with pecan instead of peanuts). $3.95 for a
three-pack. www.googoo.com
Texas
Proud Texan Rick Morrison has been crafting homemade Lone Star
State-shaped cutting boards for years. Available in cherry or
walnut, each cutting board retails for $80.
www.customcuttingboards.org
Utah
Utah's Great Salt Lake is an amazing source of mineral salts
rich in the nutrients that feed and nourish your skin. Ojavan
says the mud it hand harvests from a remote northwestern
section of the lake has more than 70 trace minerals and
elements, as well as a sand with rounded edges that exfoliates
and polishes the skin, rather than sharp crystalline structure.
A six-ounce jar is $60. ojavanproducts.com
Vermont
Lake Champlain Chocolates, made in the state capital,
Burlington, offers a line of Chocolates of Vermont featuring
all-natural Vermont ingredients like pure maple syrup, fresh
cream, and local honey. (The chocolate, however, is Belgian.)
The chocolates are also imprinted with iconic local images such
as sugar maple leaves, Lake Champlain, and the Green Mountains.
Factory tours are available. A 12-piece assorted gift Bag is
$14, and a 24-piece assorted gift box is available for $35. www.lakechamplainchocolates.com
Virginia
They are plump and succulent - and we're not talking about the
famed hams that come out of Virginia. The state has had equal
success in cultivating the humble peanut. Some of the best are
the Hand Cooked Virginia Peanuts found in The Peanut Shop in
Williamsburg. A 32-ounce tin goes for $22.99.
www.thepeanutshop.com
Washington
The quintessential Washington foodie souvenir, smoked sockeye
salmon, is both delicious and satisfying, especially for
epicurean attendees. $6.99 to $16.00;
www.madeinwashington.com
West Virginia
West Virginia Fruit and Berry products are all grown in the
mountains of West Virginia. They are traditional preserves
manufactured the same way folks in this region have been doing
it for generations. Of course that means with no additives or
corn syrup. A single costs $7.00 and a gift pack of three goes
for $19. www.wvfruitandberry.com
Wisconsin
Wisconsin may be known for its excellent cheeses, but you won't
go wrong with these peppery Landjager sausages. Made with
Brazilian red and green peppers, they deliver a tang, but are
not actually hot. These delicious offers are available in packs
of 18 for $6 each. www.wisconsinmade.com
Wyoming
Wyoming is known for its intricate, handmade leather goods. One
of the standout producers of Wyoming leather is Flat Creek
Saddle Shop in Jackson Hole, WY, which offers all variety of
leather pieces. The leather key chains featuring a Wyoming
quarter make for a fitting gift and are available in dark
brown, brick red, black, and brown. $12.
www.flatcreeksaddle.com